Cars, bins burned, but calm returning to Belgian cities

10 November 200512.20am, BRUSSELS — Several arson attacks were reported in Brussels and Antwerp again on Wednesday night, but the situation appeared less tense than what it has been in recent days.

10 November 200512.20am

BRUSSELS — Several arson attacks were reported in Brussels and Antwerp again on Wednesday night, but the situation appeared less tense than what it has been in recent days.

The fire brigade was called out to extinguish one car fire in the Magazijnstraat in Brussels, while fire fighters in Schaarbeek were also dispatched after the right-side window of a Renault Scenic was smashed in an attempted arson attack in Schaarbeek.

Three suspects allegedly involved in the two incidents were arrested in Brussels, broadcaster VTM reported.

In Antwerp, a Toyota Celica was torched in the Willem Elsschotstraat on the Linkeroever at about 7.30pm, newspaper 'Het Nieuwsblad' reported.

Witnesses saw five people running away from the blaze. They were described as four young men of North African origin and a Belgian youth.

"We have a serious description of the culprits and they are currently being tracked down," Antwerp public prosecution spokesman Guido Vermeiren said.

Meanwhile, rubbish bins in the Brupark in Brussels and in Sint-Joost-ten-Node were also set ablaze.

Suspected deliberate fires were reported in paper containers in two locations in Brugge. Fire brigade authorities brought the blazes under control and police have launched inquiries.

The container bin fires in Brugge both started at about 8.30pm. The fires were started in the Magdalenazaal in Sint-Andries and along the Ten Boomgaarde in Sint-Michiels.

Wednesday night's incidents come after a series of worrying arson attacks were reported in various Belgian cities every night since Sunday this week.

The unrest and occasional clashes between police and immigrant youths sparked concern that the violence witnessed in France in the past two weeks was spreading to Belgium.

Various arrests have been made, with police in Genk revealing on Wednesday night that they had arrested six suspects aged between 22 and 18.

Accused of arson attacks on Monday and Tuesday nights, the youths said they were inspired by the rioting in France, newspaper 'Het Laatste Nieuws' reported.